More research and commentary 

Reflections on the Phase One agreement. In the China Business Review, David Dollar reflects on the outcomes of the Phase One trade agreement between the United States and China and discusses factors that will influence future U.S. trade policy.

Lessons from Ukraine for Taiwan. Ryan Hass writes that Russia’s actions toward Ukraine are fueling speculation about whether Beijing might replicate Moscow’s moves and seek to seize Taiwan by force. Such superficial analysis should not induce public anxiety in Taiwan or command the attention of Taiwan’s leaders.

China-South Korea disputes in the Yellow Sea. In a research article for the Journal of Contemporary China, Shuxian Luo argues that the high stakes China has in its bilateral ties with South Korea and the absence of broad-based hawkish pressure at home create a permissive domestic political climate for Beijing to pursue de-escalation in maritime disputes in the Yellow Sea.

Upcoming webinar

Framing America’s policy on Xinjiang. On February 24, the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings will host a panel of experts to discuss America’s approach to addressing China’s actions in Xinjiang. Brookings President John R. Allen will provide opening remarks, which will be followed by a panel discussion about how the United States and others might respond. 

Register to watch

In the news

Political change in China. Cheng Li spoke with The Economist about the new ideologies emerging within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that might affect top officials’ positions within China’s central government.

Why China is sticking with the zero-COVID policy. Diana Fu told the Financial Times that for China, the health crisis is fundamentally a political crisis, testing the legitimacy and capacity of the one-party state. The ultimate aim of all of these policies always comes down to this: minimize social chaos, secure the legitimacy of the CCP.

China’s BRI faces competition. David Dollar told the South China Morning Post that the European Union’s new infrastructure initiative will likely be welcomed by large developing countries around the world but that the initiative will not replace China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

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